I think you’ll find his answer more than adequate.
BREAKING NEWS! Costello Asks, “Remember When I Was Great?”
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Mar 192007
Mr. Moderator
Mar 182007
Let’s settle in and talk about covers, all right?
“Conjunction Junction” or any song by Randy Newman?
“Conjunction Junction” or Three Dog Night‘s version of “Mama Told Me Not to Come”?
I’m now certain: As long as you live under my roof, you shall not listen to Cat Power‘s version of “Satisfaction”. It’s a disgrace! Is there a cover song you will not allow anyone living under your roof to spin?
Which great band, by almost any rock fans’ standards, does the worst covers? I’m gonna say The Who. Their covers are almost always terrible, and I think it’s because at least 2 of the band’s 3 musicians can’t play their instruments in a traditional rock ‘n roll manner. I’m not sure if Entwhistle can do anything but Entwhistle style either, but I don’t think he’s as much a contributing factor as Townshend and Moon. Did they ever make a cover “their own?” Is there a great band less capable of playing a great cover?
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Mar 162007
Is there a song or album that torments you for a particular reason? I’m not talking about a song or album you simply can’t stand for aesthetic reasons alone. No, I’m talking about a song or album that you not only can’t stand but that, at least in large part, is tied to a specific painful or distaste experience or memory.
I’ve got a few songs and albums that fall into this category. The first one that comes to mind is J. Geils Band’s Freeze Frame album. In and of itself, although I didn’t like the production, it was not that bad an album the first few times I heard it. Then I went off to college, where I soon grew confused, occasionally elated, and frequently miserable. I shared a large dorm room with two guys I had nothing in common with beside a love of baseball. Even that wasn’t enough.
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Mar 162007
While the Fantasy League draft slogs on, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you form making Rock Town Hall the place for spirited rock discussion on the Web. On a daily basis we’re pulling in more visitors than a local rock club could handle. We’re getting intelligent, witty, balanced comments on posts. We’re getting contributions to the Main Stage and great offlist suggestions. Thanks.
The only thing that could be better is if YOU begin adding your 2 cents to threads and YOU begin developing Main Stage discussion topics. I know YOU’ve got it in YOU.
How many niches have yet to be filled? YOU’re niche awaits. How many times have you commented on a thread offlist without posting your thoughts here? Hey, your friends are cool and all, but we’re important too. Let us know what’s on your mind. If you want to become a Main Stage contributor, let me know. You may write me offlist at jim at groovedisques dot com. You can string this address together manually; one of those spambots may be foiled! We’re not looking for insiders; you’re in the Hall already, and your word’s as good as mine. We look forward to hearing from you.
Mar 152007
In an expected move Townsman Mockcarr selected John Lennon with the first pick in the 2007 Rock Town Hall Fantasy Rock Band League Draft. The singer-songwriter-guitarist best known for his work with The Beatles and Elephant’s Memory says he looks forward to “starting over.”
The draft is now in session! Please be patient and make your first-round selections in draft order. It is suggested that you copy the latest version of the draft list into the body of your Comment and add your selection in CAPITAL letters following your name.
FIRST ROUND SELECTIONS
1. Mockcarr, GM (4-piece or 5-piece w/keys): JOHN LENNON
2. Ray Cooper Party Machine, Andyr, GM (powerhouse): PETE THOMAS
3. @–}; Hrrundivbakshi, GM (powerhouse): AL JACKSON JR.
4. Geo, GM (5-piece w/keys): PRINCE
5. Saturnismine, GM (bassless 2-piece): ROY WOOD
6. THe Subwoofers, BigSteve, GM (4-piece w/keys): JOHN ENTWHISTLE
7. Meanstom, GM (power trio): JOHN BONHAM
8. American Metal, Sally Cinnamon, GM (powerhouse): KEITH MOON
9. Scottrodgers, GM (5-piece w/keys): KREUTZMAN/HART
10. Afterschool Special; (from Sammy, GM, for 2nd-rounder): BRUCE THOMAS
11. Afterschool Special; Mr. Mod, GM (5-piece w/keys): Roger Daltry
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Mar 152007
The other day a Townsperson mentioned something to the effect of “the tracks from Church of Anthrax that I could find,” making me imagine this friend rooting through the Web in search of .mp3s. It occurred to me that this Terry Riley/John Cale collaboration is out of print, so for a limited time I’ve posted .mp3s of the album’s 5 tracks. I think it’s worth hearing (for those of you who can deal with non-rock, mostly instrumental stuff, that is). You can read a bit about the album here and here. The tracks can no longer be downloaded here. Sorry. Go find this album!
Mar 152007
Developers of the long-promised songwriting and band creation software tool Strat-o-Matic Rock ‘n Roll may be beaten to the punch by Pete Townshend. In late April, Townshend will introduce the Method software for composers.
“You enter data about yourself, you share some stuff about how you feel, and you get back a piece of music,” Townshend told the gathering. “There was no computer in 1971 big enough or powerful enough to do what I wanted it to do, and of course, there was no Internet.”
Strat-o-Matic Rock ‘n Roll developer Michael Fingeroff is not worried. “The Method sounds like an interesting tool, but what we have in development will take into account the personal data and feelings of rock visionaries dead and alive.”
To illustrate his point, Fingeroff added, “Let’s see the Method compose new songs by a supergroup, for instance, consisting of Hendrix, Bonham, and Entwhistle. With Strat-o-Matic Rock ‘n Roll, this will be a reality.”
